Diana Koester DPhil Politics

GTC DPhil Scholarship

Thanks to the GTC DPhil scholarship I can look back on two rewarding years as a DPhil student at Green Templeton.

My research has focused on how post-conflict statebuilding can work better for women. In my thesis I aim to understand what drives state responses to violence against women after conflict. At the moment I am based in Kigali to learn more about Rwanda’s experience in combatting domestic and sexual violence after the genocide. In parallel to my academic work, I help advise OECD development donors on how they can best support both men and women in conflict-affected situations.

"I call GTC my home. Living and working in this close community of brilliant people has been a huge source of support, happiness and inspiration."

Last year I got to chair the Human Welfare Conference. With great support from the college, our organizing team brought together graduates, academics and practitioners from around the world to share new ideas for better lives in low-income countries. Now I edit GTC’s academic journal Human Welfare, which aims to publish the best graduate research tackling contemporary human welfare challenges.

GTC has also given me many opportunities to pursue my love of music. I joined the GTC choir and played the piano at the Schubertiades that Sir David would organize. I was privileged to experience all of this with Sir David as my college advisor. He encouraged and challenged me to be a better academic, musician, and person.

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